Pitchfork.



EATENTEDMAR.31,1908.

' A. H. KNOX.

PITGHFORK. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1907.

summon. v. c.

ARTHUR HOLMES KNOX, OF ALPENA, SOUTH DAKOTA.

PITCHFORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 31, 1908.

Application filed September 4, 1907. I Serial No. 391,300.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR HOLMES KNOX, a citizen of the United States, resid ing at Alpena, in the county of Jerauld and State of South Dakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pitchforks, of which the following.is a specification.

This invention relates to pitchforks and one of the principal objects of the invention is to provide simple, reliable and eificient means for cleaning the'fork of all clinging material, at each and every delivery.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sliding cleaner connected to the tines of the fork and provided with means connected to the handle for operating the cleaner and for moving it toward the ends of the tines.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pitchfork provided with my improvement, the cleaner being shown in its upper position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the cleaner in its outer position. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through the double lever for o crating the cleaner. Fig. 4 is a front efevation of the cleaner showing the tines of the fork in section. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cleaner and the operating connections between the cleaner and the lever. Fig. 6 is a lan view of a hand hold for the handle of t e fork. Fig. 7 is a similar view taken from the opposite side of the handle from that shown in Fig. 6. 1

Referring to the drawing for a more particular description of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the handle of the pitchfork and 2 are the tines of the fork.

The cleaner consists of a single length of wire bent in the form of three loops 3 through which the tines 2 pass and the ends of the wire forming the cleaner being secured by means of clips 4 bent around the ends of the wire and around the contracted portion of the cleaner. Connecting rods 5 are secured to the clips by means of bolts 6, which pass through the clips and through loops formed upon the ends of the connectingrods 5, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5. The opposite ends of the connecting rods 5 are provided with loops 7 which surround a sleeve 8, said sleeve being connected by means of a bolt 9 to the two arms 10 of the double lever. This lever is pivotally connected to the handle 1 of the pitchfork by means of yokes 11 which enga e the handle 1, said yokes being provide with trunnions 12 which pass through the arms 10 and through washer plates 13 secured to the outer sides of the arms 10 by means of bolts or rivets 14. The yokes 11 are secured together by means of bolts 15 upon opposite sides of the handle 1, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3. Between the arms 10 of the double lever is'pivotally connected a sleeve 16 by means of a bolt 17 and a chain 18 is connected to the sleeve 16 and the opposite end of said chain is detachably connected to a snap hook 19, said snap hook being connected by means of a leather strap 20' and a flexible sliding sleeve 21, surrounding the handle 1 of the pitchfork. This sliding sleeve is provided with an enlargement or stop 22 for the hand of the operator, and is slotted or open from between points of connection of strap 20 to flange or stop 22. -As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, a hand hold comprising apiece of leather or other suitable material 23 surrounds the handle 1 and a crossed strap 24 is connected to the wrist of the operator and one member of said strap passes through a loo 25 on the other member of the strap and fins ends of this strap are secured to the leather piece 23. The snap hook 19 is connected to the crossed strap and a flexible keeper 26 is secured to the leather 23 to accommodate the first three fingers of the hand while a similar loop 27 is secured to the leather to accommodate the little finger of the hand. These hand holds may be substituted for the one shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The operation of my invention may be briefly described as follows :In using the pitchfork whenever it is desired to clean the tines, the sliding hand hold is moved upward on the handle 1 while the sliding cleaner is moved outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2. The cleaner loops are moved backward on the tines as the fork is inserted in the hay or other material being operated upon. From the foregoing it will be obvious that a pitchfork cleaner made in accordance with my invention is of comparatively simple construction, can be readily applied to any pitchfork Without alteration of the pitchfork or handle and that the cost of construction is comparatively slight and that the device is strong, durable and eificient for its purpose.

Having thus described the invention, What I sliding hand hold to which the opposite end 1.0

is claimed as new, is of said chain is connected.

A pitchfork cleaner comprising a strand of In testimony whereof I aflix my signature Win}:l bentkto form loops to surround the tines in presence of tWo Witnesses. of t e for connectin rods connected to said i cleaner, a double leve r pivoted to the handle ARTHUR HOLMES KNOX of the fork, said connecting rods being con- Witnesses: nected to one end of said lever, a chain con- F. E. MANNING,

nected to the opposite end of said lever and a J. W. DAUBENMIER. 

